01 | Prague Railway Junction 2025
Prague Railway Junction and its limitations. Prague is the capital of rail transport.
Since the first horse-drawn railway in 1830, the city has become a key European rail hub.
Suburban, regional, long-distance, and freight trains approach from all directions.
Globally, rail transport is experiencing a renaissance. Demand for new, reliable services is growing in the Czech Republic.
But Prague’s development is limited by its infrastructure. Tracks are at full capacity, leaving no room for more trains.
Suburban, long-distance, and freight trains share the same tracks, causing delays and irregular service.
There are no fast connections from key regions, and many metro links are missing.
Stations are often outdated and uncomfortable.
However, upcoming city and state investments aim to change this significantly.
The following sections present key changes in Prague’s rail transport, looking ahead to 2050.
| 02 High-Speed Lines
A major driver of change is the development of high-speed rail.
Prague will be part of the European high-speed network, where trains exceed 300 km/h.
A train from Ústí nad Labem will reach the Main Station in 26 minutes, and from Roudnice nad Labem in only 18.
The high-speed network will connect Prague to Dresden, Wrocław, and Vienna.
Construction of the first segments will begin soon. Full operation is expected by 2050.
To integrate into this system, Prague needs new tracks and improved passenger distribution for long-distance arrivals.
| 03 Railway Tunnels under Central Prague
A key element of the future railway hub is the construction of two new tunnels under the city centre.
They will serve suburban lines marked with “S”.
Each tunnel will be about 11 km long, connecting Smíchov, Vršovice, and Masaryk Station.
Up to 16 trains per hour will run in each direction.
Four new underground stations will be added: Karlín, Florenc, Václavské náměstí, and Karlovo náměstí.
The heart of the route will be the Main Station, which will gain two new underground platforms.
The tunnels will separate regional and long-distance traffic, improving access from Central Bohemia.
The main transport challenge lies not in the city itself, but in serving commuters from surrounding regions.
| 04 Rail Connection to Kladno and Václav Havel Airport
Most commuters to Prague from Central Bohemia come from the Kladno area.
The single-track line can no longer handle the tens of thousands of daily passengers.
As a result, many use buses or cars.
Modernizing the Prague–Kladno railway includes renovating stations and adding six new stops.
A key element is extending rail service to Václav Havel Airport, linking it directly with the city centre.
The improved line will also support development in Ruzyně, Hradčanská, and Bubny-Zátory, where a new station is under construction.
Masaryk Station will also be modernized and directly connected to the Main Station, the city's primary transport hub.
| 05 Main Station
Prague Main Station is the central node for suburban and long-distance trains.
It offers quick, direct access to the city centre.
Unlike terminal stations, it is a through station— trains do not need to turn around.
A new departure hall is planned, with a tram stop directly in front. As part of system upgrades, a two-level underground station will be built.
Metro S tunnels will intersect here, and Metro D will also extend to this station.
Once completed, over 350,000 passengers will pass through daily, switching between multiple rail modes.
06 | Metro D
In recent decades, Prague extended existing metro lines to the suburbs.
Now, a brand-new line—Metro D—is under construction.
The first phase runs from Pankrác through Krč to Nové Dvory, then south to Libuš and Písnice.
Later, the line will extend north through Náměstí Míru, Main Station, and Náměstí Republiky.
New development is planned near Metro D stations.
At Nové Dvory, a new residential district will house 5,000 people.
Krč station will offer train transfers and access to a future sports and recreation zone along Kunratice Creek valley.
07 | New Tram Lines
Prague’s tram network is one of the largest in Europe— 150 km long and used by 368 million riders yearly.
During metro construction in the 1970s and ’80s, many tram lines were removed.
This created capacity gaps and few alternatives to the most crowded routes.
Tram tracks are now returning to Wenceslas Square.
New lines will serve redeveloped areas, like Bubny-Zátory and the former Žižkov freight yard.
Trams will also expand toward the city’s edges and improve tangential routes— those that avoid the city centre.
Examples include the new line from Smíchov to Podolí via Dvorecký Bridge (under construction), and a future extension from Budějovická to Michle.
| 08 Development and Transformation Areas
Rail transport is reliable, high-capacity, and sustainable. Nearly three-quarters of Prague’s public transport users rely on it.
Urban planning prioritizes integrating new city areas with rail, metro, and tram systems.
The reverse also applies: new lines bring opportunities for growth.
For example, Prague supports the plan for a high-speed Terminal North in Letňany, which could support a new district for 10,000 people.
A new transport hub is also planned in Hostivař.
More neighbourhoods will develop around Metro D stations at Nové Dvory, Libuš, and Písnice.